Dec 29 2011

Kwanzaa Day 4 Ujamaa Cooperative Economic

By Michelle Hawkins

Habari Gani Response Ujamaa

Kwanzaa Day 4 is Ujamaa (oo–JAH–mah) Cooperative Economics
To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. This was the fore runner to the Local First movements.

Dr Marlenga the founder of Kwanzaa wanted this day to remind us that we need to build businesses in our own communities as a way to strenghten and keep the community strong. Kwanzaa has been embraced worldwide. I think this is because so many other cultures are closer to the land deriving their livihood from the land.

Black Americans and other communities are realizing they have to support local businesses to keep their communities strong. Local business provide jobs, support charities and are hands on in the communities that the owners live and work in. They have a vested interest in the community where they live.

We see examples of this Cooperative Economics at work in projects like the community farms in Detroit (http://bit.ly/sqSp7b). There are even conferences now that bring community farm directors from around the globe. The conference participants share what has worked in their community or country.

The Local First movements have picked up on this theme to get people to shop at local stores and businesses. They education people on the impact their money can has when they keep it local. One such movement here in Arizona is spreading like wildfire. Here http://bit.ly/tpTmJb

www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/

Kwanzaa celebrations around the US. http://bit.ly/s7FlT3

How is your community using Cooperative Economics? Please share.

As always you can click on the heading to make purchases.

Michelle

Posted December 29, 2011 05:24 | read more

Dec 28 2011

kwanzaa Day 3 Ujima Collective Work and Responsiblity

By Michelle Hawkins

Habari Gani Response is Ujima

Today is the third day of Kwanzaa "Ujima" which stands for collective work and responsibility. We see this happening across the country in the Local First movements, domestic violence, community gardens and so many other areas. People are trying to regain that "community feeling". We have become such a mobile society in the past 20 or thirty years that community has been lost.

I personally love it when I see people come together to create a community garden or to refurbish a park or play field. To see folks come together for something other than a funeral. Yes it is important that we honor tragic victims and see to it that they given honorable burials. We also need to come together to create the kind of community that we are proud to live in. We can no longer hide behind closed doors and hope someone else takes care of the problems. We have to stand up and be a part of the solution. Saying ,"I'm only one person and can't make a difference " was never valid. Each of us no matter how small can make a difference. Combined we are an engine that can. (Ask Former Arizona Legislator Russell Pearce). http://bit.ly/ryA15l

What are you doing to be responsible and work collectively in your community? Please share what you're doing, another community may be able to use your project or action.

As always you can shop my store on the right to keep this site going.

Are you celebrating Kwanzaa? A unique cultural holiday Black#African American Small biz http://bit.ly/vjTEFF

Posted December 27, 2011 14:10 | read more